Louisiana casino revenues continue to march upward, gaining 10% over 2019 in July. The statewide gross was $222 million. Business was especially lively in Baton Rouge, up 32%. That was propelled by L’Auberge Baton Rouge, vaulting 41% to $16 million. Hollywood Baton Rouge leapt 37% to $6 million but Belle of Baton Rouge sank further, down 30% to a measly $1.5 million. New Orleans was also jet-propelled, up 17%, led by Harrah’s New Orleans, up 26% to $26 million, while Boomtown New Orleans jumped 25% to $11 million. Only Treasure Chest was revenue-negative, down 4.5% to $8 million. Amelia Belle was flat at $3.5 million, while Fair Grounds racino climbed 9.5% to $4 million.
Lake Charles was easily tops in dollar volume ($80 million), with L’Auberge du Lac ($32 million) very slightly besting Golden Nugget Lake Charles ($31.5 million), jumping 29.5% versus the Nugget’s +12.5%. Delta Downs gained 9% to $16.5 million. Moving over to Shreveport/Bossier City, in the last month before Shreveport’s smoking ban, Margaritaville continues to lead with $18 million (+24%), followed by Horseshoe Bossier City‘s $15 million (-3%) and Eldorado Shreveport‘s $11 million (+14.5%). Also playing were Boomtown Bossier City ($4.5 million, +8%), Sam’s Town ($5.5 million, -15.5%—are the smokers fleeing already?) and Louisiana Downs ($4.5 million, +21%). Rural Evangeline Downs grossed $7.5 million, up 11%.
As expected, tribal casino revenues were down in 2020, coming in at $27.8 billion. To put it in context, that’s a 19.5% decline, much less severe than that experienced by private sector casinos. According to National Indian Gaming Commission Chairman E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, “tribes were on the forefront of creating standards, developing new safety protocols and sharing community resources. I foresee this decrease as only a temporary setback for Indian gaming.” Added the American Gaming Association, “This once-in-a-century cataclysm accelerated the evolution of tribal gaming, particularly with regard to sports betting.”
Following the lead of MGM Resorts International, executives at Golden Entertainment have imposed an anti-Coronavirus protocol of their own. In a document dated August 17, employees are scolded, “On July 15, we encouraged all of you to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect your workplace, your community, your family and yourself. Although many of our properties and corporate functions have made progress toward that end, some unfortunately have not.” Ergo, in the near future employees will be required to show either proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test “on a weekly basis.” We wish the policy were more stringent still but it’s a huge step in the right direction. By contrast, Caesars Entertainment is hosting a super-spreader event at the brand new Caesars Forum, upon which a QAnon-loving group, The Patriot Voice will descend. Now if there is anybody less likely to be vaccinated and least inclined to mask up, it’s this bunch. For those of us attending Global Gaming Expo, the good news is we’ll be home and dry by the time these self-styled patriots hit Caesars Palace (which they briefly slurred as a temple of ‘Q’ before re-editing the promotional video to placate their hosts).
Another group one would expect to be fractious about vaccine mandates is Raider Nation. (One does not venture into the Black Hole if one values their life.) But nothing says “super-spreader event” like a sold-out NFL game, so kudos to the Las Vegas Raiders for requiring proof of vaccination as a condition of admission. Some fans bridled, saying they viewed getting vaccinated as a lifestyle choice (presumably they take the same cavalier attitude toward infecting others). “To be honest the Raider games really pushed me into getting the vaccine,” said suddenly enlighten fan Jillian Diaz. Others are sulking and even selling their tickets. We’re sure there will be many others, less selfish, to take their place. The Raiders’ laudable policy goes into effect Sept. 13—not a moment too soon.
El Diablo strikes yet again! No more free drinks for players at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Vending machines have taken their place. Also, older slots have been ‘recycled’ to the back of the casino floor, with newer ones concentrated to the front. Caesars’ slot inventory would seem like a priority for capex reinvestment—but not when you’ve got $17 billion in debt to work off. (Lovely ceiling, by the way.)
Jottings: Ubiquitous Pennsylvania casino investor Ira Lubert will have a gaming hall to call his own, in Nittany, if residents are willing. So far he’s got local politicians in his corner … Tourists to South Korea are keen to gamble. New Jeju Dream Tower banked over $3.5 million in its first 20 days. Most of that came from VIPs, perhaps the same ones who spurn Macao … Sports betting is still political heresy in Georgia but that’s not keeping FanDuel from opening a 900-employee tech-development branch in Atlanta. The move is being aided by a $2 million grant from the University System of Georgia. The average salary will be $112,046 and FanDuel expects to be operational by next June 1 … No surprise, the hotel industry is making a comeback by skimping on services like room cleaning. Still-idled employees are not amused by this. A return to 2019 staffing levels won’t happen until late 2023. The hospitality industry seems to be banking on customers’ reduced expectations instead of providing a compelling reason to return. Said Unite-Here President D. Taylor, “If you get rid of daily cleaning, you don’t have food and beverage options, and there’s very little at the front desk, that’s more like a college dorm, not a hotel.”
I always thought Harrahs Chester er Philadelphia was a poorly located misconceived casino. Another Loveman Home Run.
The Raiders used their juice/mojo to promote human life and the safety of fans and employee’s, laudable and welcome action from an entity with the power to move people, and the courage to do so… Step up corporate America, the way we live our lives is being held hostage, as is the way these companies operate. This “Q Convention” that Caesars has booked for it’s space may not end up happening in my opinion, it’s like trying to herd cats, trying to ask an “anti-establishment” person to do an “establishment” thing like having a convention at a nice hotel, and paying a hefty fee. Caesars defensively issued a statement that mask rules will be “strictly enforced”, which is silly, these folks won’t comply with badged law enforcement, so they certainly won’t comply with Caesars private security. They want us to believe that convention bookings are doing just fine, this Q get together says a lot about the credibility of that assertion…